Voting machine



June 24, 1941. R. F. SHOUP 2,246,930

VOTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1.90 III/II) Ill/[Ill l, I" 3 1; 40/ 40 4- 40 l/ h II I/ INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 24,1941. R SHQUP 2,246,930

VOTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llll . gy INVENTORATTORNEYS Patented June 24, 1941 VOTING MACHINE Ransom F- Shoup,Ardmore, Pa., assignor to The Shoup Voting Machine Corporation,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application January 18,1940, Serial No. 314,384

2 Claims.

This. invention relates to voting machines and more especially to avoting machine of the general type. illustrated in the patent to Shoupet al. No. 2,054,102 and. this application is a continuation in part ofSerial No. 126,575.

In voting machines of this type, rotatable spindles equipped withhandles are: provided for actuation by a voter to register his vote.These spindles are provided? with. means for co-operation with otherelements of the machine to control the operation of the machine and. tocondition the machine for different types of voting.

An object of this invention is a spindle assembly and support whichmaybe readily incorporated in a voting machine when originallyconstructed and which maybe easily and quickly supplied with additionalmembers for conditioning the machine for different voting conditions.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent from" the following specification and accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary horizontal section substantially on the linel--l of Fig. 2 of a voting machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2' is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, partially broken awaywith additional elements mounted on the spindles;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear view of Fig; 1, partially broken away;

Figs, 6 and '7 are similar sections on the line 66 of Fig. 2' with theelements in diiierent positions;

Figs. 8 and 9' are similar sections on the line B-8 of'Fig. 2 with theelements in different positions, and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a spindle assembly.

In so far as possible, the reference. characters used in the followingspecification will correspond to the reference characters used in thespecification of said Patent No. 2,054,102 and said application, Ser.No. 126,575. Only the parts actually constituting part of the presentinvention will be described in detail, reference being had to saidpatent and application for disclosure of the other details of themachine.

A plurality of columns of spindles 38 are journalled'in a partition 30aand: in straps suspended from a cross-plate M! to which. each strap isdetachably connected by a bolt Ma. Each strap is composed of two parts40 and 40" which are held in assembled relation by the bolt Ma. Eachspindle 38 is equipped with an operating handle and is of squarecross-section except that it is provided with a circular groove 38a tobe received in a circular bearing provided therefor in the strap andadditional circular grooves, the

purpose of which will later become apparent. Each part of the strap 40is provided with a series of generally circular apertures 40a ofsufficient diameter to permit passage of the square portion of thespindle and a connecting semicircular aperture 401) of the same diameteras the circular portion 38a (Fig. 5). The arrangement of theapertures'40a, and 40b in one part of the strap 40 is just the reverseof the arrangement in the other part of the strap sothat by properarrangement of the two parts of the strap either the apertures 40aor401) may be brought into coaxial relation. Each strap part has a holeinto which extends the bolt Ma and the relation of said bolt holes tothe apertures 46a and 49b is such that when the bolt holes are incoaxial relation, the apertures 40b of one strap section are in coaxialrelation with the apertures 46b of the other strap section. When the twoparts of thestrap 40 are positioned with the apertures 46a in coaxialrelation, a spindle may be passed therethrough to bring the groove 38ainto alinement with the strap and then the parts moved to bring theapertures 40b into coaxial relation around the circular portion 38a,thereby forming a bearing therefor and locking the spindle against axialmovement.

The assembly of the spindles in the straps is accomplished with thestraps disconnected from the cross plate 4| and with the strap sectionsdisconnected from each other. The strap sections are placed relative toeach other so that the apertures 49a of one strap section are inregister with the apertures of the other strap section,

after which the spindles 38 are inserted through both spindles until thecircular portions 38a lie in alinement with the strap sections. Next,the strap sections are moved relative to each other and relative to thespindles to bring the apertures 40b of one strap into register with theapertures 40b of the other strap, in enclosing relationship to thecircular portions 38a. With the strap sections in this relationship, thebolt holes at the upper ends thereof are in register 'and the straps arethen fastened together and to the plate 4! by insertion of the bolt Mainto them.

Each spindle 38 extends through and supports a channel member 60, theends of which engage the partition 30a and a strap 40 and the channelmember is received within square apertures in two arms 59 and 59'. Thearms 59 and 59 on successive vertical spindles are offset so as not tointerfere with each other. A rod 5% extends between and has its endsattached to the arms 59 and 59'. Some of the rods 59 are attached topull straps 6| leading to an interlock (not shown). A plate 590., isattached to each arm 59' through the intermediary of the rod 591) whichpasses through a slot in the plate. The plate is thus slidably androtatably connected to the arm and is, therefore, capable of being ad-'justed to different positions relative to the plate as fully describedin Serial No. 126,575. Shoulders 66a are provided on the channel memberfor locating the arms 59 and 59' on such member and the arms are heldagainst the shoulders 60a by the rod 595. By reason of the rectangularcross-section of the channel member and its snug fit on the squareportion of the spindle, it is firmly secured to the spindle and rotatestherewith. Likewise, rotation of the spindle causes rotation of the arms59 and 59'. The arms 59 co-operate with a locking and restoring frame 65as'described' in said Patent No. 2,054,102 and the arms 59' and plates59a co-operate with vertically movable members I90 in the mannerdescribed in said Shoup application, Serial No. 126,575.

A counter C is associated with each spindle 38 and is provided with adrive pinion 43 having a square aperture through which extends the squ eportion of a spindle 38 so that the pinion is fixed to the spindle. Thecounter preferably is of the construction disclosed and claimed in ShoupPatent No. 2,140,336.

For certain voting requirements, it is necessary to connect at leastsome of the spindles to an additional interlock of the pull strap type.For

this purpose, each spindle is provided with a circular groove 3%. Oneach spindle which is to be connected to the additional interlock ismounted an arm 75 having a square aperture of proper size snugly toreceive the square portion of a spindle 38 (Figs. 6 and '7) A plate 16is rotatably' connected to the arm and carries a coaxial cylindricalstud 1'! at the outer end of which is provided a substantiallytriangular shoulder 78 projecting from the stud periphery. The axis ofthe stud and the plate lies in the extension of a diagonal of the armaperture. The plate 16 is substantially circular in shape with aprojecting arm 19 and the diameter of the circular portion of the plateis greater than the distance from its axis to the nearest corner of thesquare aperture and in the periphery of the plate is provided a notch86. The arm is placed on a spindle by first orienting the plate 16 tobring the notch 8!! into register with the corner of the apertures so asto permit passage of the square portion of the spindle therethrough.After the arm is located on the spindle with the plate 16 in alinementwith a groove 38?). the plate is rotated to 'enter the groove 3% andlock the arm against movement axially of the spindle, the extent ofrotation being limited by engagement of the extension 19 with thespindle. An interlock strap 6! is formed at its endwith an aperture ofproper size and shape to pass over the shoulder 16. Such strap normallyextends horizontally and can readily be assembled over the stud 11 whenthe latter is in the position shown in Fig.

5. Upon rotation of the plate 16 to the position shown in Fig. 6, theshoulder Hi moves out of register with the aperture thereby securelyfastening the strap to the stud.

For certain voting requirements, it is necessary to interconnect aplurality of spindles either in a horizontal row or a vertical column bymeans of a bar or rod.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate an arrangement for attaching either vertical orhorizontal bars to the spindles to meet such requirements. Two arms 81and 82 have square apertures of proper size snugly to receive the squareportion of a spindle 38 and the apertures are so arranged that theyregister with each other only when arms and 8| are oriented with respectto each other and are out of register when the arms are in register. Thearms 86 and 8! are provided respectively with apertures 83 and B l, oneof which preferably is tapped. To mount the arms on a spindle, they arearranged as shown in Fig. 8 with the apertures in' register as shown inFig. 8, and then are moved along the spindle until one arm is inalinement with a circular groove 380 of the spindle. This arm is thenrotated to bring it into register with the other arm, thereby causingits sides to be misalined with the sides of the spindle, thereby lockingit against axial movement (Fig. 9). A stud 85 passing through a borealso passes through the apertures 83 and 84 to retain the arms inregister. With this arrangement, one arm locks the assembly againstaxial movement and the other arm attaches the assembly to the spindlefor rotation therewith. A horizontal or vertical bar 86 is connected toeachassembly by the stud 85 thereby interconnecting a plurality ofspindles. The arms 8! and 82 may be in contact with each other and thebar 86 rests upon one'arm or the bar SS-may be of proper size snugly tofit said spindle, said ap-- ertures being concentric but diiierentlyoriented,

andmeans to attach said plates together in registration with one platealined with said circular portion and with the corners of the squaresection of the spindle overlying the sides of said plate aperture.

2. In a voting machine, a spindle having a circular portion terminatingat each edge in portions of greater cross-section than said circularportion, a two-part supporting member with each part having an openingfor receiving said spindle, said openings being identical in shape butoppositely arranged and each opening including an arcuate portion ofproper size snugly to receive one-half of the circular portion of saidspindle with the two portions so related as to completely encircle thecylindrical portion of the spindle and a second arcuate portion ofsufiicient size to receive said larger cross-section portions ofthe'spindle with the two second arcuate portions so related as to bemisalined when the first two arcuate portions are in circle-formingrelation, and means for releasably supporting said two supporting memberparts with said first arcuate portions in circle-forming relation.

, RANSOM F. SHOUP.

